The Indian Army has completed construction of a third Bailey bridge in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, restoring a key section of road connectivity that had remained disrupted for more than a month following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The 120-foot-long bridge has been constructed at KM 15 on the B-492 Highway, a crucial route linking the districts of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. The highway forms part of a larger arterial corridor connecting Kandy in the Central Province to Badulla in Uva Province, one of the regions worst affected by the cyclone.
The bridge was erected by the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, India’s ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission to Sri Lanka. The latest construction follows the successful completion of two earlier Bailey bridges in the Jaffna and Kandy regions earlier this month.
Announcing the milestone, the Indian Army stated that the newly constructed bridge would restore a vital lifeline that had been cut off in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, significantly easing movement for affected communities and improving access to essential services.
Earlier in January, the Task Force had restored connectivity at KM 21 and other strategic points along the same highway. The rapid reconstruction effort has helped reconnect isolated areas, reduce travel time and enable smoother transportation of food, medical supplies and other relief materials.
Cyclone Ditwah, which struck Sri Lanka late last year, triggered widespread flooding, landslides and infrastructure damage across several provinces, overwhelming local response systems and severely disrupting transport networks. The B-492 highway was among the critical routes rendered unusable, affecting daily life and economic activity in the hill districts.
Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched in November 2025 to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support to Sri Lanka. The mission has included restoration of damaged roads and bridges, along with other essential infrastructure, aimed at stabilising conditions in cyclone-affected regions.
The Indian Army has highlighted that the series of bridge constructions reflects India’s commitment to its Neighbourhood First policy and its role as a first responder during regional emergencies. The swift deployment of engineering resources has been viewed as a key factor in accelerating recovery efforts on the ground.
With the completion of the third Bailey bridge, authorities expect normal vehicular movement along the affected stretch of the B-492 highway to gradually resume, easing hardship for residents and supporting longer-term rehabilitation efforts.
The latest development marks another milestone in India’s humanitarian engagement with Sri Lanka, reinforcing operational cooperation and goodwill between the two neighbouring countries during a period of crisis.
